Bicycle



(No Modell.) I 2 sheetssheet 1. H. V. & W. H. RHOADES. BIGYGLE.

No. 452,195. Patented May-12, 1891.

W Afro/mns ws ce.. pHoro-wma., msumcn'on D c (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' H. V. 8v W. H. RHOADES.

BICYCLE.

No. 452,195. Patented May 12,1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

HAL V. RHOADES AND IVILLIAMTL RHOADES, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO,

ASSIGNORS TO THE COLUMBUS CYCLE COMPANY, OF OHIO.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 452,195, dated May 12, 1891.

Application filed May 21, 1890- Serial No. 352,596. (No model.)

To aZZ whom t may concern.:

Beit known that we, HAL V. RHoADEs and WILLIAM H. RHoADEs, citizens of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Bicycles, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to the improvement of bicycles, and has particular relation to that class of bicycles known as the Safety The objects of our invention are to construct a bicycle of this class in a simple, neat, and durable form; to provide a saddle of superior construction; to provide the bicycle with cone-bearings of superior construction and arrangement; to provide superior img proved means for regulating the tension of the driving-chain; to provide an adjustable connection of the front-fork standard and handle-bar, and to produce said invention at such low cost of manufacture as to admit of the bicycle being placed on the market at a comparatively low figure. These objects we accomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figurel is aside elevation of our improved bicycle. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the bicycle-seat. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 4i is a central longitudinal section of one of the wheel-bearings. Fig. 5 is a section on line @c as of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a similar sectional view of the pedal-shaft hub. Fig. '7 is a sectional view on line com of Fig. 6. Fig. S is a transverse section of the handlebar, and Fig. 9 is a transverse section of the adjustable seat-supporting arm, showing its connection with the main frame or backbone.

Similar letters refer to similarparts throughi 5o rear wheel, an upright sleeve c3 on the forward end of the arm c', and an upwardlybowed cross-piece ci, which connects the arms c and c2, and which, as vhereinafter described, supports the seatrod.

CZ d represent the forwardly-extending and horizontal brace -arms which support the drive-wheel shaft and which have their forward terminations in front of the rear wheel Z) and have their rear ends connected in the usual manner with the ends of the rear-wheel axle Z2.

c represents the pedal or drive-wheel shaft, the ends of which are rigidly connected with the ends of the pedal-arms 7i, said pedal-arms being of the usual form, and having mounted on their lower ends in the usual manner the ordinary forms of footpedals Il. Rigidly mounted on the shaft c and abutting against the inner side of one of the pedal-arms 7L is a small sprocket drive-wheel 7.a.

Loosely surrounding` the shaft c, between the hub of the wheel 7c and the pedal-arm 7L,v

which is on the opposite end of the shaft from said wheel, is a hub Z. The central portion of this hub is divided or bent upwardly to an approximately inverted-U shape, as shown in detail in Fig. 5 of the drawings. This inverted-U-shaped center or arched portion of the hub, which we have designated as Zgis, as shown, inclined inwardly from its base, and is adapted to be inserted and fitted between the arms CZ at or near the outer ends thereof,

'said brace-arms being inclined to correspond with the inclinationof the hub portion Z2. The hub portion Z2 having been inserted, as described, upwardly between the arms (Z is clamped therein by means of a vertical bolt Z5, which passes downward through a capplate Z4, which iits over the top of the portion Z2 of the hub, and the downwardlyiianged lateral edges of which embrace the upper portions of the outer sides of the arms d. Through this connection of the hub and arms Z the pedal-shaft is supported from said arms at the desired point in the length of the latter. The point of connection between the arms c and c2 of the frame is immediatelyin front of the central portion of the rear wheel, and said frame is rigidly connected at this point with the arms CZ, as shown.

IOO

1/ represents the l'ront traine-fork, the diverging arnls ol` which may be ol the usual pattern.

Im represents the upright fork-staiulard or guiding-shaft of the inaehine, which passes upwardly from the frontforks loosely through the frame-sleeve c3.

7n represents a handle-bar elainping-jiieee, consisting of a short vertical sleeve 7s', on the rear side of which is formed a short horizontal sleeve if?. The sleeve 7.1 is split or divided transversely, said split extending` to the inner side of the sleeve 7i?. The vertical portion of the sleeve 7c is made to surround the upper and smaller portion of the guiding-rod m and rest upon a shoulder m formed in said rod.

Through the horizontal sleeve 7.12 ismade to pass the central portion ot' the handle-bar 7e. The handle-bar having been turned until its handles project at right angles, the nut y11y is screwed upon the upper screw-threaded end of the rod m and turned thereon until the di vided halves of the clamping-piece 7.: are sufficiently clamped together to firmly grasp and hold the handle-bar.

The lower ends of the fork g, which terminate on opposite sides of the center of; the forward wheel, are each provided with a transverse screw-hole, into which is screwed, as shown, a bearing-plug p, which has formed in its inner end a conical depression p.

q represents t-he forward-wheel hub, within which is journaled the wheel-axle qv. This axle projects at each end beyond the end of the hub and has said projecting end portions formed cone-shapcd, as shown. These coneshaped axle ends enter and bear within the conical depressions p of the screw-threaded plugs p. Through the eentersof the plugs j) and the axle q passes loosely an adjusting rod or bolt q2, one or both ends of which may be provided with an ad justing-nut ([3, which bears against the outer sides of the plugs p. By turning this nut (j the fork ends may be forced inward or outward, as maybe desiredI` to regulate the contact between the eoneshaped axle and their socket-pieces.

i' represents the seat-supporting rod or arm, the upper portion of which is bent, as shown, at right angles with its vertical body.` The vertical portion of the rod fr is adj ustably supported in a split or divided socket p,for1ned in the arin el of the frame. On each side of the split of the socket is formed an outwardlyprojecting fiauge, said 'flanges being drawn together or sufficiently near each other to hold iirinly the rod r by bolts r2. The upper and horizontal portion of the rod r passes, as shown, through a rod-hole formed through lug s, which depends from the center of a metallic plate s. A set-screw s2 serves to hold the rod fr in adjustable connection with the lug s. The plate s is, as shown, made to support a saddle-frame of peculiar construction. The forward portion or half of the saddleframe is formed of one piece of spring-wire 1".

This wire has its central portion bent to forni on each side of its center a coil-ring and has its central portion between said coils bent or looped rearwardly to forni, as shown, a catch for hook 1'5", which projects outwardly from the frontend of the saddle-top or coverpiece ti", From the coils t the two arms of the wire t are bent rearwardly and have their rear end portions secured upon the plate s' near opposite ends thereof, as hereinafter-described.

The rear half of the seat-frame is composed of two sections or pieces of spring-wire u, each having its forward end resting upon the plate s and adjacent to the wires t, and each having its rear portion terminating in an upward coil It and forwardly-extendin g coil end. These coil ends each enter a hole formed in the lower end of a pin or hanger u?, both of which depend from a transverse stiftening or supporting plate wf), which conforms to the shape of the rear portion ol' the saddle-top, and to which the latter is secured. The loop ends are clamped in said hangers by setscrews fu. The forward end of the rear seat wires or rods it and the rear ends of the forward rods are, as shown, clamped side by side on the plate s by means of hook-bolts s, the screwthreaded portions of which pass downward through the plate s', and the hookshaped upper ends of which clamp against theupper sides of the seat-frame wire end portions.

From the method hereinbefore described of connecting the driving-wheel or pedalshaft with the frame itwill be seen that in case the driving-chain 7.1, which, as usual, connects the drive-wheel 7i', and a small sprocket-wheel on one end of the rear axle b', should become slack it may be readily tightened by removing` the bolt Z and sliding the hub l farther forward on the arnis d and again inserting the bolt.

Freni the description hereinbefore given of the axle-bearingsit will be seen thatthe conical bearing depression, instead of being formed, as is usual, in the axle, is formed in the plug p. As a result of this reversal in the bearings, it will be seen that in ease the conical bearing-seat should become worn or unfit for use the plug p may be unscrewed from the fork yn and a new one substituted with but slight trouble and expense. It will also be observed that by the construction shown and heretofore described the pressure or frictional contact between the axle and its bearing-pieces may be reduced or increased by turning the nut (f.

It is obvious that the form of spring1 snpporting-fran1e for the saddle herein shown will produce a strong and comfortable support, the arrangement of the spring-rods being such as to produce a central bearing therefor and result in the seat or saddle top being suspended between spring-coils which will impart the desired flexibility to the said seat. lt will also be seen that in ease one of the IOO IIO

seat-spring rods should be broken it may readily be replaced at a slight expense, and that the lnanner of connecting the seat-frame and seat-supporting rod is simple and reliable.

In case it is desired to lower or elevate the Seat-rod r it may be accomplished by loosenin g the screws r2 and thus increasing the size of the socket fr sufficiently to allow for the upward or downward movement ot' the rod r, which may again be irmly clasped in said socket by tightening said screws.

From the construction and arrangement of the various parts composing our improved bicycle it will be seen that the parts are few and that no complicated joints or connections are involved, which would involve great expense or extreme accuracy in the manufacture of the same.

The formation of the main frame, arms c c4 c2, the sleeve c3, and the socket r2 in one cast piece will lgreatly reduce the expense in the construction of a bicycle and at the same time give the machine-frame a neat and substantial appearance.

Having now fully described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a bicycle, the combination, with the front and rear wheels and a driving mechanism connected with said rear wheel, of a main frame or backbone including the arms c2 and c', the fork-arm sleeve'cg, and split socket r', all cast in one piece, substantiallyas described.

2. In a bicycle, the combination, with the front and rear wheels, rear-wheel pedal-supporting frame d, and a connecting-frame between said wheels, of the pedal-shaft c, carrying drive-Wh eel 7c, a belt connection between said d rive-wheel and rear-wheel axle, and hub l, loosely surrounding shaft e and having upwardly-projecting portion Z2, the latter detachably and adjustably connected with arms d, substantially as described.

HAL V. RHOADES. VILLIAM Il. RHOADES.

In presence of- BARTON GRIFFITH, C. C. SHEPHERD. 

